Versión en español a continuación. Animal Advisory Commission Meeting Monday, February 8, 6 p.m. Animal Advisory Commission Meeting to be held Monday, February 8, 2021, with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (by Sunday noon, February 7). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the February 8 Animal Advisory Commission Meeting, members of the public must: • Call or email the commission liaison, Belinda Hare, at 512-978-0565 or Belinda.hare@austintexas.gov no later than Sunday noon, February 7. Email is most efficient when communicating. The following information is required: speaker name, agenda item number(s) you wish to speak on, whether you are for/against/neutral, email address and telephone number (must be the same phone number that will be used to call into the meeting). • Once a request to speak has been made to the commission liaison, the information to call on the day of the scheduled meeting will be provided either by email or phone call. • Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start time in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. Please call in by 5:45 p.m. on February 8. • Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. • Handouts or other information may be emailed to Belinda.hare@austintexas.gov by Sunday noon, February 7, the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. • If the meeting is broadcast live, it may be viewed here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del Animal Advisory Commission FECHA de la reunion (Monday, February 8, 6 p.m.) La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (Sunday noon, February 7 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en Belinda Hare, 512-978-0565 or Belinda.Hare@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). Se requiere la siguiente información: nombre del orador, número (s) de artículo sobre el que desean hablar, …
4. ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021, 6 P.M. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING AGENDA ADDENDUM NEW BUSINESS c. Discussion, Update and Possible Action on How to Increase Microchipping in the City of Austin The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Belinda Hare at the Animal Services Office, at 512-978-0565, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Animal Advisory Commission, please contact Belinda Hare at Belinda.hare@austintexas.gov or 512-978-0565.
Proposed revision to Section 3-4-7 3-4-7 VICIOUS DOG. (A) An owner or handler shall take reasonable measures to protect the public from accidental contact with a dog that, by nature or by training, is dangerous to people or other animals. (B) [ An owner or handler may not keep or permit a dog to be in the city if the dog has] For purposes of this section, a vicious dog is a dog that, while running at large, has: [(1) on at least three separate occasions bitten or scratched a person in the city; (2) on at least one occasion bitten or scratched a person to an extent that the attending physician has presented an affidavit to the health authority stating that the person’s life may have been endangered by the dog; or (3) on at least one occasion:] [(a)] (1) killed a another dog, cat, or other domestic pet, fowl, or livestock, provided, however, that when the incident occurred, the killed animal was not in violation of a provision of this title relating to the confinement or physical control of animals in the City; or [(b)] (2) seriously injured another animal to an extent that an attending veterinarian has presented an affidavit to the health authority stating that the injured animal's life was seriously endangered or taken by the dog, or that the dog caused a significant permanent impairment of the injured animal’s basic bodily functions or mobility; provided, however, that when the incident occurred, the injured animal was not in violation of a provision of this title relating to the confinement or physical control of animals in the City. (C) If the Health Authority determines that a dog is a vicious dog as defined in subsection (B), the Health Authority shall notify the owner of that fact. (D) An owner, not later than the 15th day after the date the owner is notified that a dog owned by the owner is a vicious dog, may appeal the determination of the Health Authority to municipal court. An owner may appeal the decision of municipal court in the same manner as appeal for other cases from municipal court. (E) The owner of a vicious dog shall comply with the following conditions: (1) restrain the dog at all times on a leash in the immediate control of a person or in an enclosure that prevents the escape or release of the …
January 2021 January 2021 Animal Services Report ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT Animal Services News • A total of 329 animals were adopted (179 dogs, 130 cats) • A total of 104 dogs and cats were returned to their owners (RTOs). • A total of 718 animals were brought to the shelter (529 stray, 113 owner surrender, 8 • Austin Animal Center moved to virtual adoptions only at the end of December after the City of abandoned, 45 public assist). Austin moved to COVID-19 Stage 5 restrictions. Animal Protection month of January. • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 53 animals to their owners in the field during the • Officers handed out 48 fencing assistance applications, implanted three microchips and • Officers entered 190 rabies exposure reports and submitted 21 specimens for rabies testing. impounded 129 injured animals. All specimens came back negative for rabies. • 94 total coyote related activities o 52 sightings o 17 wild sick reports of mange o 8 wild speaks o 7 wild injured o 3 incidents involving a pet o 3 encounters involving a pet o 1 wild confined o 1 observation o 1 assist public • Out of 94 coyote related activities, 58 fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, and incident). Incidents: Pets were a factor in 2 out of the 3 activities • o 1 incident involved a coyote growling at the caller o 1 incident involved two coyotes injuring a raccoon o 1 incident involved a coyote biting a residents dog on the leg January 2021 Animal Services Report • Encounters: Pets were a factor in all the activities o 1 encounter involved a coyote trying to injure an off-leash dog with people present o 2 encounters involved a coyote following a resident and dog Volunteer, Foster and Rescue Programs • A total of 51 volunteers donated 1,334 hours during January. Due to Stage 5 restrictions, volunteer shifts have been limited to dog walking, veterinary treatment and video/photography. • Volunteers provided support to a dog adoption event on Saturday, January 30 where 10 dogs were adopted. • A new volunteer workgroup called Chameleon Club was formed to showcase our pets via austinanimalcenter.org. The Club provides biography write ups, photos and videos for pet profiles, enticing potential adopters to fall in love with them! So far the Club has added 141 videos to YouTube, added 144 slideshows to profiles, updated 80 profile …
Donation Fund Accounts FY20 Account No Name 7035-9200-2155 Pet Care Program/Dog walkers 7035-9200-2148 SNR/TNR 7035-9200-2171 Animal Enrichment/Behavior 7035-9200-2158 Fencing 7035-9200-2177 Community outreach 7035-9200-2149 Volunteer program 7035-9200-2141 Pet placement 7035-9200-2173 Rabies Clinic, S/N vouchers FY21 General FY21 specific donations FY20 leftovers FY21 Budget FY21 General donor survey $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 30,019.16 23,873.51 11,663.24 6,685.93 10,130.20 2,407.00 28,837.30 23,860.00 137,476.34 10,221.60 1,886.22 $ $ $ - $ $ 1,000.00 406.10 $ 210.06 $ - $ 13,723.98 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 64,690.14 33,412.40 16,356.32 917.87 1,354.40 5,119.29 2,116.09 303.34 124,269.85 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 104,930.90 59,172.13 28,019.56 8,603.80 11,890.70 7,526.29 31,163.45 24,163.34 275,470.17 Total Donation $ 137,476.35 SNR/TNR: funds community TNR/SNR of community cats Pet Placement: funds supportive medical assistance for animals that may be a barrier to placement with approved rescue partners Volunteer Program: enhances the working supplies and recognition of shelter volunteers Animal Pet Care: provide low cost or free basic animal care items to pet owners and shelter animals Fencing Assistance: provides fencing assistance to low-income pet owners for appropriate containment of their dogs Animal Enrichment: funds enrichment and behavior items for shelter animals Rabies Clinic S/N: funds sterilization of owned animals, services provided by Emancipet, Inc. Community Outreach: funds community based outreach activities to preserve the pet-owner bond and decrease shelter intake Behavior: funds used for outside behavior consultations/or training for shelter animals Dog Walkers: funds used to employ individuals to walk shelter dogs for a 1 year period
January 13, 2021 To: Residents of Gracey Farms Neighborhood Ref: Guinea Fowl Austin Animal Services (ASO) has received numerous complaints and concerns about the guinea fowl in the neighborhood. We understand the guinea fowl have long been part of the neighborhood, but the current flock of around 70 birds appears to be much more than the area can support, and, due to this, the guinea fowl are causing damage to some properties. The ASO team would like to encourage all Gracey Farm neighborhood and surrounding area residents to please refrain from feeding and/or supporting the flock in any manner. The guineas are considered “wild” and outside the purview of ASO, as is any other nuisance wildlife. ASO’s role is to educate the public about wildlife and not to capture, remove, or utilize other methods to eliminate area wildlife. Fred Rodgers, former Director of Austin Health and Human Services, noted in a letter, June 30, 1995, that the guineas are considered “wild” and, therefore, need no assistance with propagation, feeding or any other measure of care or intervention to continue to live as “free unkept wildlife.” Our ASO team would like to encourage residents who continue to have issues with guinea fowl on their property to contact one of several Central Texas wildlife rescue companies that specialize in removing wildlife for assistance, as you would with any other nuisance wildlife on private property. Your neighborhood association also may select to survey residents and engage a private company on behalf of the entire neighborhood. Thank you for bringing the matter to our attention. Respectfully. Mark Sloat Program Manager II Austin Animal Service Mark.sloat@austintexas.gov The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request.
January 2021 January 2021 Animal Services Report ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT Animal Services News • A total of 329 animals were adopted (179 dogs, 130 cats) • A total of 104 dogs and cats were returned to their owners (RTOs). • A total of 718 animals were brought to the shelter (529 stray, 113 owner surrender, 8 • Austin Animal Center moved to virtual adoptions only at the end of December after the City of abandoned, 45 public assist). Austin moved to COVID-19 Stage 5 restrictions. Animal Protection month of January. • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 53 animals to their owners in the field during the • Officers handed out 48 fencing assistance applications, implanted three microchips and • Officers entered 190 rabies exposure reports and submitted 21 specimens for rabies testing. impounded 129 injured animals. All specimens came back negative for rabies. • 94 total coyote related activities o 52 sightings o 17 wild sick reports of mange o 8 wild speaks o 7 wild injured o 3 incidents involving a pet o 3 encounters involving a pet o 1 wild confined o 1 observation o 1 assist public • Out of 94 coyote related activities, 58 fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, and incident). Incidents: Pets were a factor in 2 out of the 3 activities • o 1 incident involved a coyote growling at the caller o 1 incident involved two coyotes injuring a raccoon o 1 incident involved a coyote biting a residents dog on the leg January 2021 Animal Services Report • Encounters: Pets were a factor in all the activities o 1 encounter involved a coyote trying to injure an off-leash dog with people present o 2 encounters involved a coyote following a resident and dog Volunteer, Foster and Rescue Programs • A total of 51 volunteers donated 1,334 hours during January. Due to Stage 5 restrictions, volunteer shifts have been limited to dog walking, veterinary treatment and video/photography. • Volunteers provided support to a dog adoption event on Saturday, January 30 where 10 dogs were adopted. • A new volunteer workgroup called Chameleon Club was formed to showcase our pets via austinanimalcenter.org. The Club provides biography write ups, photos and videos for pet profiles, enticing potential adopters to fall in love with them! So far the Club has added 141 videos to YouTube, added 144 slideshows to profiles, updated 80 profile …
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20210208-3-B Seconded By: Craig Nazor Date: February 10, 2021 Subject: Recommendation Motioned By: Jo Anne Norton Recommendation The Animal Advisory Commission, with support of Animal Services Office (ASO) leadership, recommends revised language to correct an apparently unintended substantive change to Section 3-4-7, “Vicious Dog”, that gave only one option for a dog deemed vicious, I.e., that the dog can no longer reside within City limits, and to remove language pertaining to bites to people that ASO prosecutes under the “Dangerous Dog Statute”. (See attachment) Description of Recommendation to Council This recommendation gives the family of a dog deemed vicious the option to keep their dog, as it was in Austin from 1908 until the codification error in 2002. Owners of dogs deemed vicious will also have the option to appeal the decision to Municipal Court, the same as dogs deemed “dangerous” under the Dangerous Dog Statute. Language discrepancies within Section 3-4-7 have been rectified. Rationale: Correcting the error allows families to keep their pets while improving public safety by having restrictions in place to mitigate a similar situation. Adding an appeal process complies with due process requirements and case law. Vote For: 9 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 2 with one vacancy Attest: AAC Chair 1 of 1
AAC Meeting Minutes 2021-02-08 REGULAR MEETING APPROVED March 8, 2021 ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 8, 2021 The Animal Advisory Commission convened, via video conferencing, in a Regular Meeting, Monday, February 8, 2021, 6 p.m. Chair David Lundstedt conducted a verbal roll call and called the Commission Meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Commission Members in Attendance: David Lundstedt, Lisa Mitchell, Craig Nazor, Katie Jarl, Edward Flores, Dr. Jon Brandes, Monica Frenden, JoAnne Norton, and Nancy Nemer. Commission Members Absent: Palmer Neuhaus, Andrea Schwartz, Ryan Clinton, District 4 Vacant Staff in Attendance: Don Bland, Jason Garza, Dr. Kathryn Lund, Mark Sloat, Belinda Hare CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: The following speakers were allowed a three-minute allotment to express their views on items not posted on the Agenda: Delia Garza Meike Alana Susan Wampler Rachel Patfield Valerie Yates James Piper Michael Kinney Donna Skibbie 1 AAC Meeting Minutes 2021-02-08 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Jarl moved to approve the minutes from the January, 2021, meeting; Commissioner Nemer seconded the motion. Motion passed 8 to 0 with Commissioners Lundstedt, Mitchell, Nazor, Jarl, Frenden, Brandes, Nemer and Norton voting to approve. Commissioner Flores joined the meeting later, after the vote; Commissioners Neuhaus, Clinton, and Schwartz were absent. District 4 position is vacant. 2. STAFF BRIEFINGS a. Austin Animal Center and Animal Services Reports b. COVID Update 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion and Possible Action on Proposed Revisions to the City’s Vicious Dog Ordinance Commissioner Norton moved to approve the changes to the Vicious Dog Ordinance; Commissioner Nazor seconded the motion. Commissioner Flores joined the meeting and voted to approve, along with Commissioners Lundstedt, Mitchell, Nazor, Jarl, Frenden, Brandes, Nemer and Norton, for a unanimous, 9 to 0 vote. Commissioners Neuhaus, Clinton, and Schwartz were absent. District 4 position is vacant. b. Update, Discussion and Possible Action on Comparative Evaluation of Monthly Release Rates No action taken. 4. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and Possible Action on Off Leash Dogs Commissioner Norton moved to form a Work Group to see what can be done to resolve loose dog issues. Commissioner Nazor seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 9 to 0, with Commissioners Lundstedt, Mitchell, Nazor Jarl, Frenden, Flores, Brandes, Nemer and Norton voting to approve. Commissioners Neuhaus, Clinton, and Schwartz were absent. District 4 position is vacant. Commissioner Nazor made a motion to move Agenda Item 4c to the second item under New Business. Commissioner Norton seconded the …
